Page 83 of The Sound of Silence

“You need to leave—we both need to leave. It’s not safe here.”

Going to my bedroom closet, I pulled out a large canvas bag and began throwing clothes into it. My mind raced through all the hiding places I’d mapped out when I first arrived in the city. My focus was singular, only able to see through the tunnel that would lead me to safety. I didn’t even realize Derek had been peppering me with questions until I felt his hand touch my shoulder.

“Gianna, what’s going on? What are you doing?”

“Packing,” I replied automatically. “Every bone in my body is saying Ethan was here recently. I need to get out.”

“What do you mean he was here? How do you know?”

“The toothpaste. He was fucking neurotic about it. Now please, Derek…you need to leave and I need to…” I hesitated, not sure what it was I needed at that moment. I only knew I had to run. “I need to get someplace safe.”

“You’re running,” Derek asserted.

“Yes. Well, sort of.”

He grabbed hold of my arm and turned me to face him. Planting one hand firmly on my shoulder, the other lifted to cup my cheek.

“No. I missed you for three long years. You were the piece of me I didn’t know I was missing—the one who got away. You can’t run again.”

My heart was racing, ready to beat out of my chest. I wanted to give him the explanation he deserved, but there wasn’t time. I had to act now.

“I have to leave, but I promise it won’t be for long.”

“Look, I know you’re afraid, but let’s be rational about this.”

“Rational? Derek, you don’t understand. It’s not about fear. I won’t shy away from being afraid. I can’t. Fear is what kept me alive all of those years, and it has never failed me. But I trust my instincts more—and they’re telling me to run.”

“No,” he repeated more forcefully. “I’m not letting you run.”

“You’re not letting me? After all you know about me, you have to know I’ll never wait for a man toletme do anything ever again. I’m telling you I need to go—I have to take care of this—but I need a plan first. You asked me to trust you last night. Now, I’m asking you to trust me. Just give me a day, and I’ll be in touch.”

36

Derek

My feet hammered through my eighth mile on the treadmill. It didn’t seem to matter how long or how far I ran, nothing could ease the tirade of emotions coursing through me ever since Gianna bolted out of her apartment the previous morning. I hadn’t heard from her. I was agitated, pissed off, and worried beyond all belief. I didn’t know if I was coming or going anymore.

The alarm on my sports watch sounded, alerting me that employees would be arriving at The Mill in thirty minutes. I impatiently stopped the treadmill and skipped my usual cool down. The gym opened for business at six in the morning. I wanted to be showered and locked in my office before I got pulled into a conversation with another human. At that moment, I didn’t want to talk to anyone but Gianna.

The problem was, Gianna was gone, and I had no idea where to find her.

Grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat off my neck, I headed to the showers. After I stripped out of my t-shirt and shorts, I braced myself against the shower wall and let the water stream over me, I thought about everything that had happened over the past twenty-four hours.

I felt trapped with my hands tied behind my back, utterly helpless to protect Gianna from the monster from her past. I couldn’t understand why she ran—why she wouldn’t stay and let me help her. Was I that wrong about what we had together?

She was out there all alone, and only God knows what could happen to her.

After I towel dried and dressed, I left the locker room to seek the quiet confines of my office. Unfortunately, the front desk was already active with gym members. I must have taken longer in the shower than I thought. Clients were lined up to the door, each one holding out their membership cards so they could be scanned in. Lisa was behind the counter of the Nutrition Center, pulling supplements and fruit from the refrigerator for smoothie orders that would soon follow their workouts.

“Hey, boss,” Lisa said cheerily when she saw me walking by.

She looked so happy—so normal. She was mentally healthy and whole, having never experienced the horrors Gianna had. Emotion scorched my throat as I thought about all Gianna had been through. It was all I could do to keep my shit together.

“Morning,” I greeted without making eye contact. “I’ve got a bunch of stuff to do and don’t want to be disturbed.”

Through my peripheral, I saw the odd look she tossed at me, but I didn’t stop moving until my office door was closed behind me. I turned the lock and leaned against the back of the door. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I paced the length of the room like a caged animal. I wracking my brain, trying to think of where Gianna could be and how I could possibly help her. Impulsively, I ripped my cell from the pocket of my shorts and dialed my sister.

“Derek, it’s six-thirty in the morning,” Isabella growled groggily. “This better be good.”

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